V.-The Missionary's Appeal. By Rev. A. SUTTON of Cuttack.

[We have much pleasure in bearing our testimony to the zeal and perseverance of the writer of the following appeal, and his esteemed colleagues, and have but one wish as it respects his modest but stirring appeal, that it may meet with a response in many hearts; we hope that the means necessary for conveying these young men to the shores of India may be speedily forthcoming, accompanied by the prayers of the donors that they may be sanctified to the Lord's service. We are the more sanguine that some of our readers will respond to the call from the fact that in answer to similar appeals on behalf of the Basle Mission last year in our pages we had the pleasure to transmit to the Treasurer of that Institution 1,200 Co.'s Rs. May this noble example so worthy of imitation, find many imitators. Remember, Christian, "The silver and the gold are His" who hath redeemed you, not with with such corruptible things, but "with his own precious blood."—ED.]

TO THE FRIENDS OF MISSIONS.

MESSRS. EDITORS,

At the risk of being thought and called, perhaps, an annoying and restless beggar, I feel impelled by the force of considerations which I cannot resist to solicit your patronage to this appeal to the friends of missions. I have indeed tried to suppress my convictions of duty to the cause of Christ and the Heathen with respect to the subject of this letter, and for a time have succeeded; but when I have again contemplated the devastations of Heathenism, the vast moral waste around me; when I have thought of the short season of human probation, and of that truth which I most firmly believe that it is more blessed to give than to receive; and all this in connexion with my experience of the ability and willingness of many pious Christians in India; then I have felt as if I could not refuse to make this attempt to enlighten the benighted multitudes around me and be guiltless. Yea I sometimes feel as if I were dishonouring the friends of Christ by my backwardness in soliciting their aid in behalf of a most reasonable means of doing good.

My case is briefly this:

I, with my Missionary associates, form what is denominated the Orissa Mission. Our stations extend north and south, from Midnapore to Berhampore near Ganjam; and east and west from Pooree to Sumbhulpore; so that we consider as included within our sphere of labour, and where in fact our labours are more or less bestowed, the whole province of Orissa; the Southern part of Bengal; part of the Northern Circars; the recently conquered country of the Khunds; part of Gundwana

and Chota Nagpore. In all this vast field there are no labourers but those connected with our little Mission. Our nearest Missionary brethren are stationed at Vizagapatam, Nagpore, Benares, Burdwan, Serampore and Calcutta.

Nearly fourteen years have I been labouring in this place where it may emphatically be said Satan's seat is, and now at this moment we have but five foreign Missionaries and four ordained Native preachers to cultivate so wide and interesting a field. We are, it is true, expecting one other labourer shortly with a printing press; but should he come, still may we not exclaim, What are these among so many? O how often do I look upon these hapless myriads and in deep anguish inquire, Are these all the labourers that can be afforded for Orissa? Can no other means be employed to carry out the Saviour's command as it respects these perishing souls? Cannot I possibly contrive some means of bringing a few more Heralds of Salvation into these vast and dark regions? After long watching an answer has arrived. The Secretary of the Society with which I am connected, has by the October overland despatch informed me that there are four young men who have just completed their academical course, who are anxiously waiting to be sent to Orissa, but the Society has not funds necessary to equip and send them. Some of them I know have long cherished the desire of labouring in India, and others are ready to offer so soon as these have been sent out. But alas! the answer has been and now is, we have not the means of sending you!

What then can be done? The thought has followed me day and night that there are wealthy Christians in India who would if they knew the case, help to fetch them out. We ask not for great things for ourselves. I believe our whole Mission establishment including Native and Foreign labourers does not exceed 1,000 Rs. a month, and could we but obtain some assistance towards the outfit and passage of these four brethren, or any of them, or any promise of assistance towards their support when they arrive, we shall be willing to economize as much as possible, and feel assured that our Society would cheerfully embrace the first opportunity of sending them.

A Christian friend, not long since, offered 100 Rs. a month if a Missionary were sent to his station. Could a few such friends be found, or even on a less liberal scale, these four Missionaries would soon, D. V., be in Orissa. And no men would be more likely than these to lead the way to the station where the 100 Rs. is promised, and thus introduce a fifth labourer.

I must not trespass on the pages of the excellent publication in which I hope this appeal may be presented, by any extended reference to the motives which should urge Christians to engage

in such undertakings, yet it may doubtless be said with respect to these unhappy multitudes, that "they cannot repay thee, but thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." My honoured wealthy Christian brethren! the appeal is especially addressed to you. Weigh well with serious deliberation and heartfelt prayer the case here presented. Listen to the deep, loud cry of heathen misery. Remember it is the will of God you should endeavour to remove it. Think of the debt of gratitude you owe to God your Father and to Christ your Saviour for the blessings of the gospel. Then think again what a happy change that gospel is effecting and will effect among deluded idolatrous nations. We ask you to assist in communicating to others those blessings, others contributed to communicate to you. Contemplate the vast amount of work to be done; the rapidity with which men are hastening to the judgment; the favourable times and circumstances in which you live for engaging actively in attempts to convert the world to Christ. View the subject in another light, reflect on the high honour and privilege of being permitted to co-operate with God in the salvation of mankind, and the short time alloted you to prosecute this holy work. And lastly, let the zeal and liberality of idolaters stimulate you to a life of labour, of devotedness, of liberality in your glorious Master's service. Soon, very soon, will your work be done; you will have given your last rupee, offered your last prayer, performed your last act of Christian piety; and pass away to give an account of your stewardship. O that it may be said to each reader " Well done, good and faithful servant."

Come, then, beloved Christian friends "to the help of the Lord against the mighty." The aid we ask of you is small compared with what heathens render to their gods, and what many of your ancestors suffered in fines and confiscations to the truth. Are you rich, then give liberally of your abundance; are you poor, still it is for him, who observed with approbation the widow's gift, for him we solicit your contributions. With your property give your prayers. "Prayer moves the hand that moves the world." Come, then, once more, we beseech you to help us. "Come, let us with a grateful heart In the blest labour share a part; Our prayers and offerings gladly bring To aid the triumphs of our King."

A. SUTTON,

Missionary, General Baptist Missionary Society, Cuttack. P. S. It is far from being the wish of the writer or his colleagues to speak in terms of praise of their labours and success. A great deal too much, they apprehend, is sometimes said on such

subjects; yet it is perhaps due to the cause here advocated to remark, that perhaps the Lord has bestowed as large a measure of success upon this Mission as upon any one of similar extent, and that as promising a field of labour is opening before it as any in India.

As it respects the Doctrinal views of the Orissa Baptist Missionaries it may be sufficient to refer to the writings of Mr. Pike, author of Persuasives to Early Piety, Guide to Young Disciples, &c. That gentleman is the Secretary of the Mission in whose behalf we plead probably there are many individuals in India, as well as in most parts of the world, who have been benefitted by these well known and very useful works.

Contributions in behalf of the object of this appeal may be forwarded to the Editors, to the Rev. J. Thomas, Baptist Mission Press, Calcutta, or Rev. A. Sutton, Mission house, Cuttack. "I beg leave to join most cordially in this sincere appeal to Christian and Philanthropic Benevolence, and would solicit the aid of any with whom I may have the least influence."

J. STUBBINS, Missionary, G. B. M. S. Cuttack,

VI.-On the Concentration of Missionary Efforts.

We have very great pleasure in presenting our readers, such especially as take a lively interest in the Mission cause, with the present most important and ably written paper. It exhibits enlarged views and throws out suggestions deserving the mature consideration of Missionary Societies and their agents in this country. We recommend it to attentive perusal and the divine blessing.-ED.

Most Missionary Societies in this country have fallen into the error of scattering their agents over too extensive limits to admit of their acting on any well arranged system of co-operation. A want of concentration has perhaps been one of the chief causes of the little success of which so many complain. Over the whole continent of India from Cape Comorin to the Himalayas, there is scarcely one Mission so strong as, in my opini on, it should be in a country so peculiarly situated. At most of these stations only one labourer is to be found, though almost every Mission is in some large city, or populous town, or district. Hence not one half of them can be regarded as permanent institutions. When one labourer dies there is generally no one to succeed him for a considerable time. Perhaps his successor has to be sent from Europe; and before he arrives, and is able to learn the language, scarcely a trace of the previous cultivation remains. Sometimes it so happens, that just when he begins to do a little he dies or is obliged to remove, and thus the work is left exactly where he found it. Stations could be named where, from this cause, the work has

not advanced one step farther than it was twenty years ago, and, if the same is continued, may be in a similar state for a hundred years to come. In the midst of a population so dense as that of India, one man is com pletely lost in the mass of idolatry. His exertions can never command general public attention. Perhaps he labours under difficulties with respect to the language, or the climate prevents him from enjoying his health. Perhaps he is a man not naturally formed for acting alone, though well fitted to bear a part in a general plan of combined operation. But however well qualified, should he be likely to reap fruit, it may all be spoiled by a fit of sickness putting a temporary stop to his labours; or by some other cause over which he has no control, his place may be left destitute. It has not unfrequently been the case, that even where a church has been actually formed, it has been entirely scattered by such an event, never more to be gathered.

In England where every thing is comparatively favorable to the progress of the gospel-where the greater part of the population are in the habit of attending Christian ordinances, how difficult it is often for an able, pious, and faithful minister to keep up his church to the same number which he found in it, though almost every member is more or less an agent in assisting him; how much more difficult then must it be for a solitary Missionary speaking to a strange people in a difficult foreign tongue, and labouring, in an enervating climate, without a single assistant, to originate amidst the mass of idolatry, a church of new converts, and to edify and keep it together, and in the midst of all kinds of opposition to enlarge it by conversions from among the heathen-its bitterest enemies! Is it any wonder that such a work has scarcely ever been accomplished by one man, either in India or any other heathen land, and that where it has been so by one of rare endowments, it has generally been dissipated at his death? With all the advantages of divine inspiration and miraculous powers, the apostles themselves rarely, if ever, accomplished what some appear to expect from modern Missionaries. They seem to expect that a young man going alone to a city where there is not a single Christian, where he has to learn every word of the language, and to toil, often in bodily weakness, without any Christian fellowship and consolation amidst discouragements of every kind, will nevertheless in a few years form a church of pious men, many of whom will be able to preach the gospel and enlighten their Countrymen. When this result does not take place,-as indeed it never has in any strictly heathen land,—very great disappointment is expressed; but it seems entirely forgotten that no single apostle, with all his miracles, was ever so successful as this. The apostles laboured in a body in Jerusalem, with all their converts about them, till a broad foundation was laid, and even after that they did not go out singly but in bands. The first Mission to the heathen was not undertaken till thousands had believed, and were from various causes scattered abroad, so that individual believers were to be found in almost every city where the first Missionaries entered. The Apostle Paul, as far as we are informed, never founded a church by his own individual efforts, unless perhaps at Athens. He was the intrepid leader in almost every instance, of a band of devoted preachers, many of whose names are mentioned, who seem never for a day to have abandoned the infant churches. They moved on like a conquering army, but secured every conquest behind them. Hence, while the first churches were generally formed by the united labours of a band of Missionaries, they were immediately furnished with pastors and teachers, &c. for internal edifica tion, either from among themselves or the Missionary band to whom they owed their formation, and by whose constant visits they continued to be nourished and protected during the period of their infancy.